Ooooooooh - Pretty Fabrics!

Today, I was feeling like doing something a bit different, and I was out at the shops with Mr Almost 4 and we spotted some VERY, VERY PRETTY quilting fabrics. This was the dawn of the world's most expensive library bag!

I wandered in to the shop...and was even more overcome with the prettiness! I quickly succumbed, and ended up procuring the smallest quantity of each allowable....20 cm.

The fabrics are from the My Happy Garden collection by Cloud9 Fabrics:

How gorgeous are they? The colours are pretty much exactly Baja Breeze, Soft Sky, Kiwi Kiss and Chocolate Chip! YUMMY!!

So I came home and dug out the sewing machine. Ten points for me for knowing where the darn thing was! Twenty points for the machine for starting up first go (I have owned this machine since I was a teenager and it hadn't been started up in about 4 years)! Mr Almost-three was standing watching me with boggling eyes...going 'WOW...what is that machine mum?...It goes fast'!

With much umming and ahhing on my part...and some concerted harking back to my Textile and Design class days in high school...this is what I made:

I was pretty stoked with how it turned out...EVEN if you can see the checked lining fabric from the outside (I didn't have any plain fabric to hand to line it with)...deep breaths Sam...it is afterall, just a library bag! But NO...this is no ordinary library bag. This bag set me back a pretty hefty sum....I am going to be like 'WHERE is the library bag...WHERE IS THE LIBRARY BAG?'....and 'YIKES, what is that MARK on THE library bag' for the rest of my days ;-).

I hope it a very durable library bag, because as one friend pointed out...it is going to have to last until Miss Almost 6 graduates...in order for it to be a cost-effective library bag! It is made from 100% Certified Organic Cotton though...so I guess that helps. It is an environmentally friendly library bag!!

Seriously though...it was fun to make. Every year I go see the quilting exhibition here and stand drooling over those wonderous works of art. I think I might do some more quilting soon :-).

See you!

(Blogged to: Babooshka - Kate Bush and Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order).

Ballerina Sans Boo Boos

As I was editing the photos of this little punch art ballerina card I noticed several boo boos....not least of which is the fact she had no ribbons holding on her pointe shoes AND her pointe shoes were on backwards.....OMG! So I just re-did her legs (just snipped the old ones off), and then re-did the photos AND put the dinner on...the light is terrible...hence the washed-out colours :-(

Ballerina boo boos aside....I must thank the very talented Clare of Crafty Cow Creations...who inspired me to make this beautiful ballerina, and was kind enough to post a very comprehensive tutorial on how to make her too! All errors were my own stupidity...Clare's tutorial is crystal clear!!!!!

I went back to Clare's blog this afternoon, and you MUST see her marvelous moo moo header! Clare...you rock!

Here is my card:

List of Ingredients:

Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze, Kraft, Very Vanilla, Close to Cocoa and Vellum
Punches: Scallop Circle, 1 1/4 inch Circle, 1 inch Circle, Word Window, Butterfly, 1/2 inch Circle, 1/4 inch Circle, Heart to Heart, Scallop Edge, Wide Oval and Boho Blossoms
Accessories: A Perfect Day Rub-Ons, Scoring Blade, Styled Silver HodgePodge, Rellie Rave Buttlebug Folder, Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots and SNAIL Adhesive.

I am having major feelings of deja vu here....I really MUST go finish the dinner or we won't be eating tonight!
Thanks for stopping by and have a fantastic furzday.

(Blogged to: Slave to the Music - Nick Skitz and Legs - ZZ Top).

More Blue Beady Bling...

I like putting pictures of my bead bracelets up here because I like looking at them. They remind me of treasure...not that I have much acquaintance with treasure but you see it in the movies, you see it on the Tower of London tour, the Edinburgh Castle tour, sparkling on Mary's head every time she goes to a gala occasion (and then ends up on the cover of Woman's Day)...you get a feel for what it'd be like...you know, being around jewels....don't you?

Well, these bracelets are my jewels. I don't wear earrings...I let my ear holes close up after the birth of my first child....the one who used to think grabbing those sleeper earrings and pulling for all she was worth, was pretty funny, even funnier when mummy started shrieking in pain. I don't wear necklaces much either...something about feeling like I have a noose around my neck...an unsavoury past life maybe?

But I am partial to a little bling on my arm, it makes me smile....in fact, when you think about it, bracelets are one of the few pieces of jewellery that the wearer can actually enjoy...those and rings. I'd look pretty darn odd walking down the street gazing down at my own chest in the faint hope of getting a glimpse of my necklace...wouldn't I? As for earrings...lost cause...I ain't never gonna catch a glimpse of those babies...unless I stop near the shiny side of an escalator and peer into it shiftily...then I'd probably just get booted out of the mall.

I even go so far as to sacrifice my watch in order to wear a bracelet (something on both wrists feels a bit too busy for me). And who needs to know what time it is when they have some pretty sparkles on their wrist? The doctor will wait...won't he ;-). I go about checking my till receipts in order to see what time it is (I don't carry a mobile....I know, you're thinking what planet does this girl come from?). The whole till receipt time-telling doesn't always work though...some people have obviously never set the clocks on their tills!

But I really am getting carried away here...I just mean't to pop on here and show you two bracelets....and now you've had Sam's guide to Jewellery Psychology 101...sorry.

The lovely striped focal beads, and the turquoise spacer beads are by Avaline at imakebeads on Etsy.

Those gorgeous blue focals are by Jelveh of Jelveh Designs, also on Etsy.

Well, that's all I had to say. Best go make some dinner! Have a lovely evening.

PS. Don't forget, my blog candy finishes next Wednesday...check it out here.

(Blogged to: Beautiful World - Devo and Fireflies - Owl City).

Just Add Ink Challenge #9 - Sketch Challenge

I thought I'd use this week's Just Add Ink challenge to inspire some scrapbooking because I have been waaaay slack when it comes to my scrapbooking. This week the challenge was a sketch challenge:

Now, I've gone way out on a limb here, in terms of adhering to the sketch...but I think that you can see that I have the same elements, but they are teensy weensy bit different. Screw your eyes up when you look at my page...it might help some ;-)

List of Ingredients:

Cardstock: Real Red, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Black and Whisper White
Stamps: Choo Choo
Inks: Kiwi Kiss, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red and Basic Black Classic Ink and Whisper White Craft Ink
Accessories: Right on Track Standard Wheel, Hoppy Memories Simply Scrappin Kit, On Board Timeless Type, Crystal Effects, Basic Black Marker, Star Designer Brads, Styled Silver Hodgepodge, Creative Memories silver numbers, Cuttlebug Diamond Plate Embossing Folder, Dimensionals, Sticky Strip and SNAIL Adhesive.

This is a close up of the photo that I have used on the page:

The original of this photo is here:

In Photoshop I cropped it down,  cloned out the electrical wires in the sky and some of the person down the platform (sorry person!). I then ran Pioneerwoman's B & W action...tinkered with the light layer, then ran the quick edge burn and reduced the opacity some. I was pretty pleased with the end result.

I have blogged about this steam train trip before, here.

Thanks for visiting today :-).

Blogged to: Bridal Train - The Waifs and Take On Me - a-ha).

Languid Lucy the Lounging Lion

Meet languid lucy...the lounging lion! Well, I tried to make her look like she was lounging idly by the shore of a crystal clear lagoon. However, my daughter thinks her legs look a bit odd. I tend to agree with her. But I couldn't very well make a lion legless...could I? Anyway...

List of Ingredients:

Cardstock: Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Kiwi Kiss, Garden Green, Summer Sun, Real Red, Basic Black and Tangerine Tango.
Punches: Wide Oval, Word Window, Scallop Circle, 1 1/4 inch Circle, Photo Corner, 1/2 inch Circle, Flower Trio
Cuttlebug Embossing Folders: Tiny Bubbles, Devine Swirl, Birds and Swirls, Forest Branches, Distressed Stripes and Rellie Rave
Accessories: Crimper, Basic Black Marker, Googly eyes, Dimensionals, Sticky Strip and SNAIL adhesive.

So whaddaya think? Weird or wot?

It is a beautiful, beautiful day here today (except for the significant smoke haze which I think is due to some back burning they were doing around the ACT yesterday...better haze though than massive licking flames and fireballs I say!!).

Tonight is Skyfire on the lake (= big fireworks display)...and we are thinking of taking the little boat out for a spin and having a picnic dinner on the lake and watching the show. Better go start thinking about what to take for that.

Have a good one,

(Blogged to: Six Months in a Leaky Boat - Split Enz and Smalltown Boy - Bronski Beat).

Circle Circus

I haven't used this stamp set much...but it really is very nice...and versatile! I think this card looks kind of Moroccan or something along those lines (maybe if travelingmama is out there, she could confirm this?)...but anyway, here is my very simple card:

List of Ingredients:

Cardstock: Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, Tangerine Tango and Whisper White
Stamps: Circle Circus
Ink: Pacific Point Classic Ink
Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8 inch Circle Punch, Filigree Designer Brads, Cherished Memories Rub-ons.

I don't think I've paid Pacific Point enough attention. It is such a pretty colour.

Thought I'd also post this shot that my hubby captured:

...It is one of my favourite shots from the summer holidays. So clear...and nice colours (enhanced a little with Pioneerwoman's Boost action ;-).

On the subject of holidays...I noticed that different people are interpreting the 'describe your favourite holiday' bit of my blog candy competition differently. This is not a problem at all. I don't mind hearing about your favourite travel holiday (which is how many Australians seem to interpret 'holidays'), or your favourite religious or commemorative holiday like Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving etc (which is how some of my international readers might interpret 'holidays'). I find it funny that I have never really noticed this very basic difference before! On the subject of blog candy...you still have plenty of time to enter my competition, so if you're interested...check it out here.

Time to go to sleep!
Buenas noches,

(Blogged to: St. Elmos Fire - John Parr and Oh Yeah - Yello [Go Ferris!]).

'Just Because' Beady Bracelet Blog Candy...

I've been tossing up how to run a 'just because' blog candy giveaway, where one of my lampwork bead bracelets is the candy...and if I think about it any longer I'll give up...so here goes!

The prize will be a lampwork bead bracelet using these lampwork focal beads by Candice Matthewson of Beadgoodies on Etsy...

...combined with Sterling Silver Bali beads, Swarovski Crystal beads and Swarovski Pearl beads. The final bracelet will look something along the lines of this bracelet:

...but probably not exactly the same. I won't make the bracelet up until I know who has won, what size their wrist is and how they like to wear their bracelets (i.e. loose/tight). I think that'll solve my sizing issues. Also know now that I am no professional bracelet maker. I'll do my best, but don't be comparing it to a Pandora or any other razzle dazzle products :-).

In order to be in the running for this blog candy, all you need to do is leave a comment on this post, and tell me about your favourite holiday. It doesn't need to be long if you don't want to write much....just what/where/why. I like thinking about holiday ideas.....even if they don't eventuate.

If your commenting doesn't automatically leave your name and email, either write your name and email address in the text, or email me separately after you've commented (navarino@yahoo.com) with a copy of your comment (so I can work out which one is yours).

This competition is open to anyone from anywhere. I am not sure how the winner will be decided. It'll possibly be through Random.org or via paper ballot with one of the tiddlywinks doing the picking.

Entries will close at 11:00 am AEDST (Australian Eastern Daylight-Savings Time) on WEDNESDAY 31st MARCH 2010.

Thanks for your interest in my lampwork jewellery bracelets, and thank you for reading my blog.

I hope you have a beautiful day!

(Blogged to: Venus - Bananarama and We Built This City - Starship).

Spotty Dotty Beads

Another little lampwork bead creation for your perusal. I've used lovely blue and white (and red and orange) dotty focal beads made by Sari at Gaialai on Etsy. The beads are pretty large and decorative, so I've used minimal extra stuff, just a few 8 mm Swarovski beads in Crystal and a couple of small sterling silver plain round spacers.

I think beautiful bright cheerful beads like these are going to be my friends through winter this year!

I was thinking about dinner tonight, and we are just going to have left-over spaghetti, but I thought I'd mention some groovy herbs and stuff I recently picked up at the Canberra Show.

These goodies are from a Taste of the Bush, and we've enjoyed them so much I went online yesterday to order some more...and they arrived today (that's gotta be the super-est speediest service evah)!

The recipe on the back of the Salt Bush pack is for a salt bush crusting for lamb fillet...YUMMY. It was actually what drew me to buy them in the first place...I have been looking for different things to throw on the BBQ, and I LOVE lamb fillet (even if it does cost the earth just now at $39.95/kg...is everyone having to pay that price??? Maybe I should move to NZ ;-).

Anyhoo...basically the recipe calls for:
Lamb Fillets
Salt Bush
Macadamia Oil
Tasmanian Mt. Pepper, and
Native River Mint.

It is very good, not too salty, and the kids love it too. Winner!

See you later,

(Blogged to: Blue Monday 88 - New Order and Dreams - Van Halen).

Buggy Beetle

Just a little bit more silliness from me. I really love the images in the Going Buggy set...they're so big and bold and cute:

List of Ingredients:

Cardstock: Real Red, Elegant Eggplant, Yoyo Yellow and Whisper White
Stamps: Going Buggy
Inks: Elegant Eggplant and Real Red Classic Ink
Accessories: Chit Chat Rub-ons, Crimper, Googly eyes, Dimensionals and SNAIL Adhesive.

It is a beautiful Autumn day here today....the clouds are picture perfect - well, almost...I did run Pioneer Woman's Boost action on them (several times in fact) to get some more of that lovely sky blue happening:

This last one looks cartoon-ish to me! What does the sky look like where you are?

Also....a swimming shot, because pretty soon it is going to be just too cold to swim until next Spring (boo hoo):

Have a lovely day,

(Blogged to: Born Slippy - Underworld).

Dragonfly birthday with cake...

As I went to photograph this card I was thinking...what was I thinking? Probably, at the time I made it, I wasn't thinking at all. If memory serves me...the kids were begging me for something and I remember just grabbing the first rub-on I saw...it was one of those annoying ones that end up sort of hanging off the end of the sheet and collecting all the dust...so I just grabbed and rubbed. Now I have a birthday card with a dragonfly on it and a break out the cake sentiment. Yeah Sam. They go together brilliantly! I guess I can always cover up the sentiment with some hodgepodge...

List of Ingredients:

Cardstock: Elegant Eggplant, Real Red, Yoyo Yellow and Whisper White
Stamps: Going Buggy - retired
Inks: Elegant Eggplant Classic Ink
Accessories: Chit Chat Rub-ons, Tiny Bubbles Cuttlebug Folder, 1/2 inch Circle Punch, Crystal Effects, Dimensionals, Kmart goggly eyes and SNAIL Adhesive.

It looks kinda kooky...but I guess that's permissable for a child's birthday card :-).

Also, here are a few pictures that I took yesterday...

....Icky fly! I just liked how clear he came out...plus his groovy coloured rear-end.

....Banksia. I LOVE Banksias

....Cheeky Mr 3, with Seventies action applied (thanks PioneerWoman)

....Batemans Bay

....McKenzie's Beach (yes it was flipping cold...you don't see me in there do you?).

....McKenzie's Beach

....sand

....sand

....sand

....and more sand!

I like sand!!

(Blogged to: Echo Beach - Martha and the Muffins).